September auction planned of artwork credited to Banksy removed from former Detroit auto plant

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS July 31, 2015 - 12:45 pm EDT

DETROIT — An auction is planned for an artwork that gallery officials say the elusive British graffiti artist Banksy created at a former Detroit auto plant.

It's listed among works being sold Sept. 30 during a "Street Art" auction by Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California.

An 8-foot, 1,500-pound section of cinderblock wall featuring the stenciled artwork was removed from the Packard Plant site in 2010. It features a figure of a child holding a bucket of red paint and brush alongside the message: "I remember when all this was trees."

David Rudolph, a spokesman for Detroit's 555 gallery, says the gallery owns the artwork and the proceeds will help renovate the gallery's new permanent home.

Banksy is known for traveling the world and anonymously leaving his street art in public areas.

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FILE - This May 11, 2010 file photo shows the founders of the art gallery 555 Arts, Carl W. Goines, left, and Monte Martinez, wrapping artwork by popular graffiti artist Banksy at the abandoned Packard car plant in Detroit. An auction is planned for the artwork that gallery officials say the elusive British graffiti artist Banksy created at a former Detroit auto plant. It's listed among works being sold Sept. 30 2015, during a "Street Art" auction by Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza, FILE)